CHAN
Rabiu Ali on record mission as Super Eagles B leaves for Accra for CHAN qualifying encounter with Ghana

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Nigerian Super Eagles B, comprising of home-based players will leave their Ikenne camp for Accra, Ghana on Friday for Sunday’s first-leg qualifying match for the African Nations Championship.
The team is confident of achieving a positive result from the encounter ahead of the return leg in Uyo next week. One of the players, Rabiu Ali, skipper of Kano Pillers is optimistic of the Nigerian team qualifying ahead of regional rivals, Ghana Black Galaxies.
If fielded, Rabiu Ali will possibly be the oldest player to compete in African Nations Cup qualifiers.
He clocked 44 last September and he is not just the oldest player in the Nigeria Premier Football League, he is the longest-serving player having been on the scene for 21 years since the 2003 season.
He is not just the captain of Kano Pillars, Rabiu Ali is regarded as the club’s greatest-ever player.
Though he has been with Kano Pillars since 2009, he was previously with Nasarawa United.
The match with Ghana will not be his first African Nations Championship duel, he was in Stephen Keshi’s squad that placed third in South Africa in 2014.
He scored a brace in a Group A match in Nigeria’s 4-2 demolition of Mozambique a the 2014 edition. He was also remarkable in Nigeria’s comeback defeat of Morocco at the 2014 edition.
At the time, the Atlas Lions of Morocco stunned Nigeria in the 36th, 39th and 41st minutes of a match making the Super Eagles B 3-0 down at halftime.
Nigeria rallied back in the second half to stalemate scores at 3-3 and eventually won 4-3 after extra time. Rabiu Ali scored one of the second-half goals.
Speaking with Sports Village Square in Ikenne on Thursday, the mercurial striker remarked that his age will not inhibit him from hitting the right form when Nigeria takes on Ghana on Sunday.
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CHAN
Egypt’s expected debut in CHAN fails after home crash to South Africa

The valuable away goal that Egypt scored in the first leg of their CHAN qualifiers with South Africa counted for nothing as they crumbled miserably 3-1 at home on Sunday.
Although the Africa Nations Championship is on its eighth edition, Egypt, a record seven times Africa Cup of Nations winner, has never featured in the CHAN.
Egypt’s hopes of qualifying for the first time in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) ended abruptly after a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to South Africa at the Suez Canal Stadium.
Having secured a vital 1-1 draw in the first leg away in South Africa last Sunday, courtesy of Mohamed Antar’s volley, Egypt failed to build on their away-goal advantage and succumbed to a 4-2 aggregate defeat.
South Africa started aggressively, hitting Egypt’s post through Craig Weaver in the fourth minute before eventually taking the lead ten minutes later. Maema capitalized on a defensive error inside the penalty area, slotting home comfortably to put the visitors ahead.
Egypt survived another scare in the 24th minute when Maema’s shot again hit the woodwork. Just three minutes later, however, Mfolozi doubled South Africa’s lead after a deflected cross fell kindly at his feet for an easy finish.
Mohamed El-Sayed briefly reignited Egyptian hopes, reducing the deficit with a deft finish from a precise cross delivered by Sayed Abdullah in the 31st minute, making the halftime score 2-1.
The hosts’ chances of mounting a comeback faded shortly after the restart when goalkeeper Mahmoud Abu Al-Saud conceded a penalty for fouling a South African forward. Luthuli confidently converted the resulting penalty in the 51st minute, restoring the two-goal cushion.
Despite tactical adjustments and several attacking substitutions by Egypt, the home side struggled to threaten South Africa’s composed defense. South Africa comfortably controlled the remainder of the match, securing their passage to the next round.
South Africa will now face Malawi, who advanced by overcoming Comoros with a decisive 4-0 aggregate victory.
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CHAN
CHAN 2025: Gambia survives as Gabon crashes out after penalty heartbreak

Gabon’s hopes of progressing in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers were dashed as they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Gambia after a goalless draw in Libreville on Saturday.
Despite dominating the second-leg match of the second qualification stage and creating numerous scoring chances, the Panthers failed to find the net, ultimately paying the price in the shootout.
The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Gabon was awarded a penalty, but Samson Mbingui failed to convert, leaving the Scorpions with a lifeline.
With the match still deadlocked at 0-0 after regulation time, the contest went to a penalty shootout, where Gambia kept their composure to secure victory and advance to the next round.
The Scorpions converted all their attempts, while Gabon’s Nasta Oyono missed his shot, sending his effort wide and sealing his team’s elimination.
Elsewhere, Malawi advanced thanks to their 2-0 home win over Comoros to seal a 4-0 aggregate victory.
Wongani Lungu opened in the scoring for the home side in the 50th minute before Binwell Katinji’s strike on the hour mark secured the win.
First Leg Results:
- Gambia 0-0 Gabon (February 28, 2025)
- Comoros 0-2 Malawi (March 2, 2025)
- South Africa 1-1 Egypt (March 2, 2025)
Second Leg Fixtures:
- Malawi 2-0 Comoros – March 8, 2025 Malawi win 4-0 on aggregate
- Gabon 0-0 Gambia – March 8, 2025 – Gambia win on penalties
- Egypt vs. South Africa – March 9, 2025 | 19:30 GMT
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CHAN
Egypt secure vital away draw against South Africa in CHAN 2025 qualifier

Egypt’s local national team claimed a crucial away goal after drawing 1-1 with South Africa in the first leg of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers at Free State Stadium on Sunday.
Mohamed Antar put Egypt ahead in the 66th minute with a well-taken volley before South Africa’s Jamie Webber equalized with a powerful strike 14 minutes from time.
The Pharaohs started cautiously, prioritizing defensive stability, while the hosts struggled to break through. South Africa’s first real threat came early in the eighth minute when Monnapule Saleng tested goalkeeper Mahmoud Abou El-Saoud from a distance.
Both sides lacked fluency in the first half, so the teams went into the break level at 0-0. After the restart, Egypt capitalized on a defensive mistake, with Antar firing home to give the visitors a crucial lead.
However, South Africa responded strongly, with Webber unleashing a long-range effort that found the top corner, denying Egypt a first-leg victory.
The result leaves Egypt in a strong position, with the away goal offering a slight advantage ahead of the second leg, scheduled for 9 March in Cairo.
A goalless draw would be enough to send Egypt into the final qualifying round. In this round, they would face either Comoros or Malawi for a place at CHAN 2025, which will be held in August in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
-Ahram
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